Vos back for Paris-Roubaix, Ferrand-Prévot also surprisingly in the mix

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot returned to the professional peloton last year, immediately becoming one of the strongest female cyclists in the world. She won the Tour de France Femmes and Paris-Roubaix in the same year. This season she had planned to skip the Hell of the North, to focus on the Ardennes classics and her Tour de France Femmes defence. Not only has she changed her mind, but it seems Marianne Vos is also back in the mix.

Ferrand-Prévot finished second in the Tour of Flanders, so she is certainly in form. However earlier in the year she said that Paris-Roubaix was not on the schedule. 'I'll leave that to Marianne Vos! I'll be on an altitude training camp then,' she said at the time. Vos, however, missed the Tour of Flanders due to the death of her father. Whether she would take part in Paris-Roubaix was unknown for a long time.

Vos is back on the start list, and just like last year she will have her French teammate alongside her, L'Équipe reported. Ferrand-Prévot made a bnig impression in her debut at the toughest cobbled race of the year. She rode away from the favourites, dealt with her last breakaway companion on the Carrefour de l'Arbre, and arrived alone at the famous Vélodrome.

It did not take long before Visma | Lease a Bike provided confirmation. Not only is Ferrand-Prévot there, but Marianne Vos will also return after the death of her father. 'It has been a very tough period,' she said on her team's website. 'It was good and important to be with my family in recent weeks. This week I have tried to pick up normal life again, and the bike is of course an important part of that.'

She cannot wait to race again. 'Paris-Roubaix is a very beautiful race and has always been a big goal. So I am also looking forward to standing at the start with the team again on Sunday. From the moment you are here and do the reconnaissance, it is simply wonderful to be here. Even though the cobbled sectors feel like torture, the road that leads to the Vélodrome in Roubaix is beautiful. The race is so unique in cycling. I love it.'

Last year the Dutch team, with Vos among them, enjoyed success thanks to Ferrand-Prévot's victory. 'It was fantastic to experience. When I was with Pauline in the finale and eventually knew she was going to take the victory, that was an amazing feeling.' Vos intends to help set up a similar result this year. 'I am going to do my absolute best and as a team we will certainly try to ride for the win again.'

Ferrand-Prévot did not need asking twice, according to team director Jan Boven. 'Pauline really wanted to ride Roubaix. Her arrival naturally changes the dynamic and gives us even more options in the race. With such a strong and broad team, we are going all out for the highest achievable result.'

The two team leaders will receive help from Lieke Nooijen, Daniek Hengeveld, Nienke Veenhoven and Margaux Vigié. In her quest for a title defence, the Frenchwoman must deal with the likes of Lotte Kopecky, Lorena Wiebes, Zoe Bäckstedt, Elisa Longo Borghini and Elisa Balsamo. Last year the women's race was still held on the Saturday: now both the men and women will race on Sunday.

After Paris-Roubaix, Ferrand-Prévot will focus on Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but skip the Amstel Gold Race. After that, the Vuelta a España is on the programme, followed by preparation for the Tour de France Femmes.

On 1 August she will try to win the biggest race in women's cycling for the second year in a row. Just like 2025, it would be a good omen if she can first win Paris Roubaix Femmes.